Vibratile apparatus.



PATENTED APR. 16, .1907.

L. SNYDER. VIBRATILB APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 18,1904.

LAMBERT SNYDER, OF ROCHELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY.

VIBRATILE APPARATUS.

Specification a Letters Patent.

ratenteci April 16, 1907.

Application filed October 18. 1904. Serial No. 228.937-

To otZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAMBERT SNYDER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rochelle Park, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in V ibratile Apparatus, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generating vibrations for massage purposes, particularly such as set forth in my application for Letters Patent, filed August 27, 1908, Serial No. 170,908, which application resulted in Patent No. 772,234, dated October 25, 1904; and said invention consists in certain arrangements of parts and details of construction, all of which will be more specifically referred to hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims.

The object of my present invention is to provide a device of the character above indicated which shall embody certain novel features of construction, whereby the intensity or volume of the vibrations to be produced may be reliably predetermined or modulated, and likewise the convenience, utility, and effectiveness of the device as a whole in practical service shall be measurably enhanced.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the respective views, and as to said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vibratilc apparatus embodying my said improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vibrator-head removed from the staff of the device, certain minor parts being shown, mostly in section, in conjunction therewith.

In carrying out my said invention I pri marily make use of a staff, means for generating vibrations longitudinally along said staff, and means whereby the intensity or volume of the vibrations to be so generated may be predetermined or modulated.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, 2 denotes a staff of rigid material, as metal, of any appropriate cross-sectional contour and having a smooth or uniform surface. The staff 2 is provided at one end with a body contact member 3 and the opposite end with a removable head or stop 4.

IVhile the general shape or contour of the contact member 3 is not material and may be varied within wide limits, I prefer to form the same by bending the end portion of the staff 2 outwardly and then back, so as to form a returned portion extending past the axial line of the staff, said returned portion being given a slight concavity, so that it will better conform to, the contours of ones body.

The contact member 3 is provided with a shield 3, of any suitable material, such as rubber, to form a soft yielding cushion, in this instance taking the form of a sleeve and which obviates the disagreeable sensation due to the direct contact of metal with ones person, said contact member being intended for application in some instances to a patient while clothed and in other instances to the body of a patient when disrobed. If preferred, the contact member 3 may be formed as a separate part and thereafter attached in any convenient and well-known manner to the staff 2.

The removable head or stop 4 serves when in place to prevent the accidental displacement of the vibrator-head 5 from the staff 2 in the direction of said head or stop and also to supply a medium whereby the staff 2 may be conveniently held with its contact memher in place against the body of a patient undergoing vibratory massage treatment.

The vibrator-head 5 is formed from rigid material, such as metal, may be of any appropriate general contour, and has a passage 5' of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the staff 2. This head when pressure is duly applied thereto-that is, at one side thereof and in a direction parallel with the staff 2-is movable step by step to and fro along the staff 2 and has accordingly diagonally opposite staff-contact points which alternately impinge upon the staff 2 at the opposite sides thereof when said vibratorhead is thus moved. 'During the movement of the head 5, as just described, each impinging effect of said head on the staff 2 induces a vibratory effect longitudinally along said staff, which vibratory effect may be in turn transmitted to the body of a patient by means of the contact member 3.

In order that pressure may be conveniently applied to the vibratorehead 5, as stated, I extend said head radially at an angle with the axis of the staff 2, such extension by preference taking the character of an arm 6. More specifically the arm 6 comprises a rigid portion 6, the latter formed by swaging down the material of said arm at the outer extremity of the rigid portion aforenamed. The portion 6 is made rigid, so that the fingers of the operator may have a steady bearing for moving the vibrator-head 5 and so that the grasp of the operators fingers may not interfere with the free vibratory action of the resilient portion 6.

In the practical operation of my present invention resiliency constitutes an important characteristic of the arm 6, since this feature of the construction not only reii'iforces the vibrations of said arm, but also renders feasible the use of means for predetermining or modulating the volume or intensity of the vibrations to be produced by means of the device in its entirety.

Vhile vibrations of a substantially constant volume or intensity and adequate for massage purposes may be induced along the staff 2, even if the arm 6 be rigid, Where said arm is resilient it responds to the vibratory effect produced by the movement of the head 5 along the stall 2 and undergoes a whipping action," which reinforces the intensity of the vibratory effect of said arm. This action. may be easily controlled or modu lated, and when so controlled or modulated a corresponding tendency or result is reflected and had on the vibratory effect produced along the staff 2. In the form shown in the drawings the area of resiliency of the arm 6 is fixed by the extent of the portion 6 but the entire arm might be resilient without departure from my invention. However, I prefer that said arm shall comprise a rigid portion and a resilient portion, substantially as shown, the former carrying a fingerrest 7, of wood, well-vulcanized rubber, or other suitable material, preferably of an ovate general contour and having a passage whereby it may be adjusted to the rigid por tion 6. As a means for modulating the amplitude, volume, or intensity of the whipping action of the arm 6 in practical service, and hence correspondingly modulating the vibratory effect produced along the staff 2, as by the step-by-step movement of the head 5, I provide a member 8, which is mounted on and shiftable to and fro along the arm 6 or, as in this instance, to and fro along the re silient portion 6 of said arm, and which member will be hereinafter termed a modulator.

A simple form of the modulator 8 is shown in the drawings, where it consists of a solid ball, of wood, rubber, or other material, having some weight or gravity and having a passage 8, whereby the same may be mounted, as on the reduced portion of the arm 6. The modulator 8 nicely fits the arm 6, may be urged to and fro therealong to any position desired, and remains where so placed, the diameter of the passage 8 being regulated to this end. If the modulator 8 be placed at the limit of its outward movement along the arm 6, its inertia in the practical operation of the device will strongly serve to increase the arc of the whipping action of said arm, and if shifted to different positions inwardly along the arm 6 the arc of the whipping action of said arm will be proportionately de creased, the rapidity in succession of the impingements of the head 5 on the staff 2 will be correspondingly varied, said impingements being much less frequent in succession durin say, each second of time when the moduIator is at the limit of its outward movement along the arm 6 than when said modulator is at the limit of its movement inward along said arm and proportionately varied in rapidity of succession when the said modulator occupies any position along said arm intermediate of its respective limits of movements as above defined, and the vibratory effect produced along the staff 2 will be varied correspondingly.

For limiting the inward movement of the modulator 8 along the arm 6 I make use of a stop 9, here shown as taking the character of a sleeve, of any appropriate material, adj usted to the arm 6 atthe outer end of the fingerrest 7 between the latter and said modulator. The stop 7 also serves to prevent movement of the modulator 8 too far inward where it might interfere with the convenience of the operator in grasping the finger-rest 7.

10 denotes a button placed on or formed at the extremity of arm 6, the same serving as a terminal-piece for said arm, and to prevent injury of the operator through accidental contact with the tip of the arm. The button 10, when formed as a separate part and thereafter adjusted to the arm 6, may be produced from any suitable material, and its weight also acts to some extent to increase the arc of whipping movement of the arm 6.

In operation, the parts being assembled as shown, the user grasps with one hand the stop 4 and presents to and holds the contact member 3 against the part of the body to be treated, the modulator 8 having been previously adjusted to predetermine or modulate the vibrations to be produced. Now with the forefinger of his other hand engaging the finger-rest 7 at one side thereof and at the stop 9 he urges the head 5 in one direction along the staff 2, then quickly removing the forefinger from the rest 7 he engages the latter with his thumb at the opposite side thereof and urges the head 5 in the opposite direction along the staff 2, and so on, the head 5 undergoing a step-by-step movement and impinging successively with greater or less rapidity on the staff 2 at the opposite sides thereof, according to the position of the modulator 8 along the arm 6, and the vibratory effect thus produced along the staff 2 being correspondingly modulated as to intensity or volume and being thence transmitted to the body of the patient by means of the contact member 3.

Obviously my present invention may be I modified to some extent, particularly as re- I hence impart gards the character of the modulator 8 and various other details of the construction, Without departing from the spirit and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim,- and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vibratory massage apparatus comprising a staff; a vibrator-head mounted on said staff, said vibrator-head being arranged to travel, under pressure suitably applied thereto, step-by-step to and fro along, and vibrations to, said staff; and adjustable mechanical means connected to the head for reinforcing and modulating the vibrations so produced, substantially as herein specified.

2. A vibratory massage apparatus comprising a staff; a'vibrator-head mounted on said staff, said vibrator-head being arranged to travel, under pressure suitably applied thereto, step-by-step to and fro along, and hence impart vibrations to, said staff; a resilient arm projecting from said vibratorhead; and a modulator, the latter mounted on and shiftable along said arm, for modulating the vibrations thus produced, substantially as herein specified.

8. A vibratory massage apparatus comprising a staff; a vibrator-head mounted on said staff, said vibrator-head being arranged to travel, under pressure suitably applied thereto, step by step to and fro along, and hence .impart vibrations to said staff; an arm projecting from said vibrator-head, said arm comprising a rigid portion adjacent to said head and a resilient portion leading from said rigid portion; a finger-piece on the rigid portion of said arm; and means for transmitting to the body of a patient the vibrations so produced, substantially as herein specified.

1. A vibratory massage apparatus comprising a staff; a vibrator-head mounted on said staff, said vibrator-head being arranged to travel, under pressure suitably applied thereto, step by step to and fro along, and hence impart vibrations to said staff; an arm projecting from said vibrator-head, said arm comprising a rigid portion adjacent to said head and a resilient portion leading from said rigid portion; a finger-piece on the rigid portion of said arm; a modulator shiftably mounted on the resilient portion of said arm; and means for transmitting to the body of a patient the vibrations thus produced, substantially as herein specified.

5. A vibratory massage apparatus comprising a staff provided With a contact mem her; a vibrator-head mounted on said staff, said vibrator-head being arranged to travel, under pressure suitably applied thereto, step by step to and fro along, and hence impart vibrations to said staff; and a soft elastic shield arranged upon and protecting said contact member, substantially as herein specified.

6. A vibratory massage apparatus comprising a staff; a vibrator-head mounted on said staff, and adapted, under pressure suitably applied thereto, to momentarily engage and release said staff, and hence impart vibrations thereto; an. arm projecting from said head, said arm being provided With a finger-piece, a modulator, and a sleeve between said finger-piece and modulator; and means for transmitting to the body of a patient the vibrations thus produced, substantially as herein specified.

7. A vibratory massage apparatus com-' prising a rigid staff; a rigid head, said. head being arranged to travel under pressure suitably applied thereto, step by step to and fro along, and hence momentarily engage and release, said staff, the engaging effect of said head with said staff being accordingly non-elastic, and vibrations adequate for massage purposes being accordingly imparted to said staff; means whereby pressure may be applied to said head as stated, and a resilient arm projecting from said head and serving to reinforce the vibrations of the head on the staff.

8. A vibratory massage apparatus comprising a staff; a vibrator-head mounted on said staff, said vibrator-head being arranged to travel, under pressure suitably applied thereto, step by step to and fro along, and hence impart vibration to, said staff, and adjustable means carried. by the head and adapted to vary the vibrations of the head on the staff.

' LAMBERT SNYDER. Witnesses:

W. H. RUBY, F. W. BEARDSLEY. 

